US Education official to give graduation speech

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A top official from the U.S. Department of Education is coming to Salt Lake City to deliver a graduation speech for an online college based in Utah.

The Western Governors University says in a news release that Ted Mitchell, the undersecretary of education, will speak to their graduating students on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. at Energy Solutions Arena in downtown.

About 5,500 students are graduating in the summer commencement ceremony.

The Western Governors University offers degrees in four fields: business, teaching, health care and information technology. It was created in 1997.

Mitchell has been in the undersecretary post since May. He is a past president of the California State Board of Education.